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May 4, 2017 is this year’s National Day of Prayer. It is this day, the first Thursday of May, that has been designated for this purpose. Dr. Tony Evans talks about the urgency of this moment to not only pray for our nation, but also our leaders in government as well as the urgency of turning our hearts back to God. “If there was ever a day when God’s people needed to grab ahold of God and to invite his manifest presence back into our midst, today is that day.” It is important to recognize the spiritual climate of a nation that dismisses the presence of God and not be surprised when darkness takes up residence where the Light once was. “It is incumbent upon God’s people, through whom He has determined to express His presence, to make contact with Him, in unity, on one accord.” This is what the National Day of Prayer is all about.
Many people wonder if God even hears their voices in prayer? It’s important to recognize that God not only hears our voices but that He is intimately aware of every imaginable detail of our lives. God desires for each of us to turn to Him in our hearts, to acknowledge Him, and to surrender our lives to Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. If there is any time to pray for our nation, now is the time.
2 Chronicles 7:14 embodies this very reality. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We need to turn from pride and humble ourselves. This is not about the problems or issues that we see happening in the lives of others. This about recognizing what needs to change in ourselves. This is about a personal relationship with God.
To think about so many people reminds us of what took place when Promise Keepers led one million men to gather in humility and repentance on our nation’s mall. Men from all over the nation gathered to repent for their sins and the sins of our nation. People from all over the nation are praying for America, as well as nations around the world.
Warwick Marsh, with National Day of Prayer & Fasting – Australia, along with other nations is standing in unity of prayer for the nation of America. Marsh describes the amazing unity that has taken place as he shares how many nations are praying for America. “Last year we had people from over 45 nations join us in prayer for America. This year, we are believing for over 100 nations.” Marsh reads from a Proclamation of Prayer that was written by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. In this Proclamation, Lincoln writes of an American landscape that was in crisis and must turn to the Lord as their God. “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace; too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” Marsh continues to address that present-day America has found itself at the same crossroads that Lincoln described during his day.
As a leader in Australia, Marsh and leaders of nations throughout the world will pray for America on May 4th, as well as leaders in America who understand the urgency of this hour to pray for America. As Chairperson for the National Day of Prayer, Anne Graham Lotz also understands the urgency of the hour that our nation is in. As Anne Graham Lotz points out, Daniel was a man written about in the Old Testament who stumbled upon the promises of God while Israel was enduring a season of slavery. Daniel 9:19 records this remarkable discovery that Daniel observed and the prayer that was prayed in response. “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” This is a prayer that God is sure to hear, but as Anne Graham Lotz emphasizes, we must respond to God’s promises in humility and repentance. “All of us can agree that our nation needs healing; and God promises to do so, but on the condition that we pray humbly, seek His face, and turn from our own sin. Will America be healed? We won’t know until we join together and pray.”
It is good to believe God for deliverance, but we must participate in our deliverance. One way to participate is to pray. Don’t agree with the voices that are speaking doubt, those who are speaking against our nation and our President. Listen to what God’s Word says over you, and your perspective is sure to change.
See the full discussion about this year’s National Day of Prayer, the urgent hour that America is presently in, and so much more. Also, shared in this segment: prayer, humility, shifting of God, Babylonian Captivity, Stand in the Gap, Bill Clinton, and repentance. Greg and John shared in this segment.
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